Tuning device eor stringed musical instruments



Apr. 17, 1923. 1,452,075 H. o. HAMMER TUNING DEVICE FOR STRINGED MUSICALINSTRUMENTS Filed March 17. 1922 Patented Apr. 17, 1923.

- U'NiTED- STATES 1,452,4r15 PATENT OFFICE.v`

HANS O. HAMMER, v011" CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

TUNING DEVICE FOR STRINGED MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; l

Application .iled March 17, 1922. Serial No. 544,464.

To aZZ whomy t may concern:

Be it known that l, HANS O. HAMMER, a-citizen of United States, residingat Chin cago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have inventedcertain new and use-` ful improvements in Timing Devices for StringedMusical Instruments, of which the following is a full, clear, and exactspecification.

My*v .invention relates to improvements in tuning devices, andl moreparticularly to the construction of the string tensioning pegs used inconnection with various forms of string instruments.

Among the objects ofthis invention are to provide a simpleand efficienttuning peg or tightening device which may be cheaply made and readilyapplied to the hea-d piece or proper portion of the instrument and whenso applied, will occupy a minimum amount of space.

A further object of the invention is to provide a simple bearing box inthe form of two die castings and constructed in a manner that when thektwo parts are secured together they retain .the worm and gear in theirrelative working positions.

The above stated primary objects together with other minor objects willbe more apparent as the description of my improved device proceeds.

In the accompanying drawings illustrat ing my invention:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view ofthe head of an instrument with a portion cutaway showing my improvement embodied therein;

Fig. 2 is a cross sectional view of the worm and gearing mechanism whichactuates the tuning peg;

Figs. 3, 4 and 5 are enlarged detail views of the base and cap of thebearing box with the worm positioned therebetween;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail view of the cap of the bearing box lookingin the direction of the axis of the worm, and

Fig.,7 is an enlarged cross sectional view of the bearing box and thegear.

My inventionl is here shown as embodied in the head 10 of an instrumentwhich is provided with a plurality of circular sockets or chambers 11.Communicating with each socket 11and extending through the side of thehead 10 is an aperture 12 for the purpose hereinafter set forth.

`My improved bearing box comprises a vcirculary base 13 and a cap 14.Centrally disposed in the base 13 is a socket 15. Surrounding the socket15 is a shoulder 16. Adjacent the shoulder 16 is a concavity 17 havingat one end a relatively small bearing support 18 and its other end arelatively larger bearing support 19 for the purpose hereinafter setforth. Positioned on the opposite side of the base 13 are threadedapertures20. .The cap 14 is provided with `a centrally disposed aperture21 extending therethrough. Surrounding the apertures 21 is a shoulder 22which terminates in a concavity 23, corresponding with the;v concavity17 in the base 13. At one end of the concavity 23 is a relatively smallbearing support 24 and at `the other end is an outwardly projecting rib25 for the-purpose hereinafter pointed out. Positioned on the oppositesides of the cap 14 are two apertures 26 adapted to register with theapertures 20 of the base 14 in a manner to reeive screws 27 for securingthe cap to the ase.

Pivotally mounted in the socket 15 and on shoulder 16 of the base 13 isa gear 28 with a stud 29, and similarly the gear 28 is supported in theaperture 21 on the shoulder 22 of the cap 14 by means of a peg 29 formedintegrally with the gear 28. The peg 29 is provided with an aperture 30to receive a string 31 for tensioning 'the same.

Positioned in meshing relation with the gear 28 is a worm 32 which issupported in its position by a stud 33 on the bearings 18 and 24 of thebase and cap respectively. Adjacent t'ne outer end of the worm 32 is agroove 34 adapted to` receive the rib 25 of the cap 14 and prevent thedisplacement of the worm from the bearing box. Secured to and positionedon the vworm shaft outside the head 10 is a thumb piece 35 which iskadapted for manipulating the tuning peg 29.

In assembling my improved tensioning device, the base 13 is inserted inthe socket 11 of the head 10, after which the worm 32 is insertedthrough the aperture y12 of the head and seated in its bearing in thebase 13. Then the gear is seated in its bearings in the base 13 inoperative engagement with the worm 32. The cap 14 is then placed uponthe worm and gear with the peg 29 extending through the aperture 21which forms its bearing, and with the two apertures 26 registering withcorresponding apertures 20 of the base for securing the cap to the baseby means of screws 27. It will be noted thatpthe outwardly .extendingrib 25 of the cap 14 is adapted to engage in the groove 34 of the worin32 in a manner to prevent its displacement from the bearing box.Afterscrews 27 have been secured the circular wood plug with an aperture37 `f to fit over the peg 29 is secured in the socket 11 on top of thecap k14.

While I have described but one ernbodi ment of myinvention it is to beunderstoody that the-same iscapable ofrnodiiication, and

that. modificationvinay be employed without departingfrom the spirit andscope as ex'-` pressed'in the followingl claims.

1'. A tuning. device for stringed musical instrument comprisingV a.lhead, a socket formedV inl saidihead, a bearing base posi-` tioned invsaid socket, a gear and wormseatedf inisaid: base, abearing capsecuredto said baseJ and-means formed integrally` with saidv cap: vforpreventing displacement of l said` wor-ni. t

QQA tuning device for. a. string instrunient, comprising a bearing base,abearing cap ,connected to said base, a worin` and gear.

positioned:betweenfsaid base and cap and means including an outwardlyprojecting rib engageable with a groove in saidv worm for preventing thedisplacement of said gear and' worni seated on the-shoulders andconcavities of the-base and cap respectively and-1an outwar'dlv`projecting rib formed in the concavity of said cap for retaining saidworin in its bearing.

4. A tuning` `device for; string` Y instrunfient,v comprising` a bearingbase, a bearing cap connectedto said base aworin andfrear "oi n Psitioned between saidV base and'` cap saidy worm havingan annular groveand means projecting from. thebearlngrportion of said cap and engagingthe grooueinsaid worm;

for preventing displacernentv of said v worm.

In testimony whereol aliixmy signature. HANS QL. HAMMERL

